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Launched as a 2010 model, Volvo XC60 is the smallest of the Volvo crossover family, which includes XC70 and XC90. A compact SUV about the size of a Honda CR-V, Volvo XC60 competes favorably with Acura MDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class. Three versions are available: XC60 3.2, turbocharged XC60 T6 AWD, and an R-Design model that develops even more power.

Volvo XC60 seats four quite comfortably, five with a bit of coziness, while offering more cargo space than nearly all competitors. XC60 looks like a smaller version of XC90, and it doesn't shout family-mobile.

The standard 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine easily meets the demands of daily driving, offering 240 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 19/25 mpg City/Highway with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is an option. Under the hood of the T6 AWD is a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine, generating 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The T6 gets an EPA estimate of 17/23 mpg City/Highway.

For those who value quick acceleration, a 325-horsepower version of the turbocharged engine is available, in the R-Design edition. Torque output is boosted by 29 foot-pounds. Like the T6 AWD, the all-wheel-drive R-Design is rated 17/23 mpg. All engines use Regular-grade gasoline.

Volvo has given the XC60 a fresh front-end look for 2014, including a new hood and front fenders, plus a revised grille with a larger Volvo iron mark. Headlights have been reshaped and a new lower front spoiler is bright-trimmed. New vertical LED daytime running lights are mounted, and Pan alloy wheels on the XC60 3.2 hold 18-inch tires. To improve handling, the base car gets new Corner Traction Control by torque vectoring. Inside are a new instrument cluster, three-spoke steering wheel, available wood trim on front door panels, stitching on door panels and armrest, white illumination for buttons (replacing green), and new front door sill plates. An enhanced tire pressure monitoring system tells whether a front or rear tire is low.

Paddle shifters are new in the T6 AWD, which adds Advanced Quick Shift for 2014. In Sport mode, or when paddles are used, new software quickens gear-changes by 20-30 percent (50 percent, from First to Second gear). This cuts 0-60 mph acceleration from 6.9 to 6.5 seconds, according to Volvo.

The XC60 is not the sportiest among the compact SUVs, but it handles well on city streets and highways. We ran it hard on curvy remote roads, and it responded well. It's easy to park, too, particularly with the optional rearview camera. The XC60 rides comfortably, brakes are superb, and its 6-speed automatic transmission is well tuned.

Volvo's full-time all-wheel-drive system works smoothly in the daily grind without a huge penalty in fuel economy (18/24 mpg in the base model). AWD is truly welcome when the weather gets foul or on gravel.

With all-wheel drive and 9.1 inches of ground clearance, the Volvo XC60 offers as much off-highway capability as most sport-utility buyers will ever need. It can handle backcountry trails, and the computer-managed Hill Descent Control makes creeping down steep inclines secure. An XC60 can tow 3300 pounds: a trailer full of snowmobiles or a small boat.

Model Lineup

The 2014 Volvo XC60 comes in three models: XC60 3.2, XC60 T6 AWD, and XC60 T6 AWD R-Design. Up to three step-up trim levels are available for each, including Premier, Premier Plus, and Platinum. All come with all-wheel drive except the 3.2, which has standard front-wheel drive (AWD optional).

The Volvo XC60 3.2 is powered by a 3.2-liter inline-6 engine generating 240 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, and using a 6-speed automatic transmission. The XC60 3.2 comes with front-wheel drive ($34,850) or all-wheel drive (a $2000 option).

XC60 T6 AWD ($41,550) comes with all-wheel drive and is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 making 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The basic T6 AWD is equipped like a 3.2 Premier, with different 18-inch alloy wheels. Premier Plus ($42,850) and Platinum ($45,550) add the same items as with the XC60 3.2.

XC60 T6 AWD R-Design ($45,500) increases the horsepower to 325 and torque to 354 pound-feet, also raising the redline to 6500 rpm from 5600 rpm. It uses 20-inch wheels with 255/45R20 tires, and a sport-tuned suspension with stiffer springs and struts, and bigger front and rear anti-roll bars. The R-Design is equipped like Premier, with Premier Plus ($47,100) and Platinum ($49,800) adding the same extras as in the T6.

Options include a Sport Package ($1500) for the XC60 3.2 and XC60 T6 AWD with sport seats and 20-inch alloy wheels. A dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system ($1,800) is available for all models.

Volvo devotes significant resources to research aimed at improving occupant protection, and its reputation for safety engineering is deserved. Safety features standard on all models start with dual-stage front-impact airbags, front passenger side-protection airbags, curtain-type head protection airbags with rollover deployment for outside seats and whiplash-mitigating front headrests. The XC60 gets the highest possible scores in various government and insurance industry (IIHS) crash tests. All XC60s come standard with a collision prevention/mitigation system called City Safety, which can automatically apply the brakes in a pending low-speed collision. At speeds up to 18 miles per hour, City Safety can mitigate crash impact or avoid a rear-ender altogether. Other active safety features include advanced anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control. Safety-related extra-cost options include the park assist and rearview camera, the Blind Spot Information System, and a pair of two-stage child booster seats with adaptive seatbelts for the outboard rear seats.

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Driving Impressions

The Volvo XC60 defines the appeal of the so-called crossover vehicle. It's a fabulous compromise between what people want in a true, truck-based sport-utility and what they need for daily transportation. Beyond its flexible seating/cargo configurations, the XC60 is generally a comfortable, pleasant vehicle to drive. Not only is an XC60 compact and easy to park, it isn't mundane in a people-mover, family-wagon fashion.

The XC60 is tuned more for cruising comfortably on the highway or through town than for flinging around on back roads, or for travel where no graded roads exist. It provides moderate off-pavement capability, and not just the look that goes with a tall body or ride height elevated an inch or two. Its 3300-pound tow rating is substantial in this class, and the standard Trailer Stability Assist helps maintain stability while pulling a trailer.

The T6's turbocharged engine delivers refreshingly linear acceleration, not necessarily what you'd expect from a turbo. It also adds a bit of verve that the base, non-turbo engine lacks. Regardless, the base six-cylinder is torquey enough for everyday use, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

We liked the 6-speed automatic transmission best in Sport mode. Its well-executed sport setting re-assigns shift points to maximize the engine's power curve and extends the transmission's stay in each gear. Sport mode uses more fuel, but it suppresses unwanted hunting among gears when climbing or descending grades. Additionally, it suppresses the engine's tendency to surge unexpectedly as it acclimates to each gear change. The sport setting also allows a driver to choose a specific gear when desired. The automatic reasserts its own control to shift up or down at pre-determined engine speeds. In full Auto mode, when driven casually, shifts are smooth, if not invisible.

The full-time all-wheel-drive system operates seamlessly, and the driver will almost never know when it's working. In normal, good-traction conditions, 95 percent of the engine's power goes to the front wheels. If the front wheels lose traction, a multi-plate clutch begins routing power to the rear, to a maximum split of 65 percent to the rear wheels.

All-wheel drive on the Volvo is more an advantage for safe, secure forward progress in lousy weather than a true off-road tool. Still, with 9.1 inches of ground clearance, this crossover can traverse terrain that would be impossible in a conventional sedan, or in some other crossovers. Hill Descent Control adds some reassuring braking assist when navigating down a dirt trail.

The Volvo XC60 is lighter (and smaller) than the XC70 and XC90 crossover SUVs, but it has a relatively high center of gravity, combined with minimally bolstered seats and a largish steering wheel. These traits establish the XC60 more as an all-weather, long-distance cruiser than a canyon carver.

The suspension does a decent job taming different types and conditions of tarmac. Ride quality is a bit rough at times, more so with the more stiffly suspended R-Design models. Travel on rough pavement produces some head toss, which is not uncommon in the class. An Infiniti EX35 delivers a quieter ride than the XC60, while the BMW X3 and Acura RDX offer better steering feel.

The R-Design's stiffer suspension and 20-inch wheels with low-profile tires make the ride considerably rougher. Handling was good when charging corners, but maybe the stiff ride isn't worth it.

On the other hand, the hotter R-Design acceleration, with wider and bigger torque, is definitely worth it. The 6-speed automatic transmission doesn't have to do much kicking down, with all the power and torque at hand.

Brakes work very well, resisting fade, consistently and confidently slowing it from high speeds for cornering. Most of its optional lane departure and other proximity warning systems can be suppressed or turned off if the driver decides they're not needed.

The standard City Safety feature is intended to help avoid rear-ending the car ahead, or at least to minimize the damage. This system works at speeds of 2-18 mph. Up to 9 mph, it can stop the car before it hits a car in front. From that speed up to 18 mph, it can reduce significantly the force of the impact. Tested at just under 9 mph in a parking lot, it worked surprisingly sharply, jolting the driver and front seat passenger smartly into abruptly snugged-up seatbelts. We were glad it worked.

Final Word

The Volvo XC60 packs a lot of space into a stylish, compact SUV that seats five. It's maneuverable and pleasant on freeways and city streets. Offering more cargo capability than its competitors, an XC60 has great cargo/seating flexibility and is loaded with Volvo's trademark safety technology. With good ground clearance, an all-wheel-drive XC60 offers light off-pavement capability. The upgrade turbocharged engine is appealing and more invigorating, but the base 3.2-liter six-cylinder is more than adequate for most drivers and delivers better value. For those who want flexibility in cargo and people hauling without the bulk of a big SUV, the XC60 makes a lot of sense.